Rick Warren at the Islamic Society of North America

What good is it if they are fed, clothed, houses and healthy - if they are going to spend eternity in separation and isolation?

Has Rick Warren turned in his divine Commission for something that will lead only to earthly glory and recognition?

God help me, I too agree with Rick Warren.

Let him advance interfaith projects. He excels at projects. Let him grow his fanbase and his contributors' base.

Let him clothe, house, and feed the needy. Someone needs to, and he's the right guy to do it. But, as was said to the Prince of this world, "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."

As I see it, one of the problems the Church has today is that when we see a pastor or someone else with a title is doing God's work, too many of us forget that Christ commanded each of us to make disciples of all the world. Many are content to say to ourselves, as we reach for the remote, "Ol' Pastor has it taken care of. I'll just rest up awhile."

The fact that Mr. Warren has made it clear what he is doing points out to all the Church that we need to carry out our own orders. It makes clear to all that we cannot sit back, confident in the idea that he is doing our work for us.

So, let him advance interfaith projects. He excels at projects. Let him grow his fanbase and contribtors' base. As for me, I will do what Christ told me to do, and will not have the false excuse that "Ol' Rick is doing my part for me."

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Michelle, I will agree with you that there is some tangible, measurable good to Warren's 'social gospel' in that it does feed the hungry, fight poverty, etc. etc.
It takes care of the physical needs of people.
I will also agree with you that many professing Christians may sit back and think it's the job of "the church" to do the mission work, but not theirs. This goes for both ministering to the physcial needs as well as the spritual needs.

Where I disagree with Rick Warren - and perhaps you, too - is that ministering to the physical (flesh) needs of anyone without simultaneously ministering to the spiritual needs goes against God's Word.

Can you name one time in the Bible where Jesus met the physical needs of a person without also ministering to their spiritual needs at the same time?
I can't.

I've followed Warren for years; I think you have as well.
Warren is willing to kick 'ministering to the spiritual needs' to the curb to advance his cause.
He'll not serve bread AND the Bread of LIfe at the same time, so as to not 'offend' those with whom he yokes himself.

Edited t add...
...and after all of that, did I miss your point? :?

LOL! Yeah, but I don't think I actually stated it.

I am just happy that he's being honest enough to say that he is really NOT interested in doing what Jesus Himself commanded us to do. Those of us who knew it already didn't need to hear him say it, but how refreshing to have him admit that he is not interested in interfaith dialogue!

We will all answer to God for what we did and did not do for Him. I don't think I'd want to be accountable for having a VERY public pulpit and misstating the Message to so many people.

However, "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Mr. Warren is helping to keep them alive so that those who carry the Word of God can minister to them.

I have been following him, LMD, and I have posted my opinions here about his beliefs. My opinion of his "work" hasn't changed a bit.

Oh, I cannot tell you how much I agree with you on this item! In the ministries I've been involved with, the number 1 thing that has to be turned around has been the impression that people are given when they give their hearts to Jesus. It seems that people are frequently given to believe that it is the worldly things that will get better.

Ray Comfort says it best here:

I haven't had time to post in a while, but leave it to a topic regarding Rick Warren to get me to chime in :-)

I've documented my problems with the "Purpose Driven Pastor" previously...

Michelle's point that the flock needs to be involved in bringing the Gospel to the world and not just expect the pastors to do it is a good and valid one. The problem with Rick Warren (and sadly many other pastors in today's emergent chruch) is he's not bringing the true gospel because it might offend or discomfort the sinner (this is central to his method of "church" growth).

However Christ clearly taught that "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5, KJV) Salvation, necessarily requires not only:

1) The recognition of Jesus as Lord and Savior and the only way to salvation: "I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6, KJV)
2) Our sinful nature, "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10, KJV)

but

3) also repentance: "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:47, KJV).

Amen, Mike! Good to see you posting; I always enjoy what you bring to the table :)
Speaking of RW, do you get a chance to visit the website, Christian Research Network? They have several contributors which analyze RW's work. Lately, a few of RWs 'tweets' have been posted - the content of which I find as vaccuous as the rest of his pontifications (don't get ME started...!)